Liquid additive dispensers for washing machines



Dec. 18, 19 c. J. KNERR ETAL LIQUID ADDITIVE DISPENSERS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 12, 1959 Ira/6721 0715" Carl Jfinerr an 7 LIQUID ADDITIVE DISPENSERS FOR WASHING This invention relates to a liquid additive dispenser for washing machines of the oscillating agitator type.

In the use of liquid additives in clothes washing machines, the liquid additive should preferably be introduced into the wash water, either automatically or manually, in a manner to insure the mixture and dispersion of the liquid additive in the Wash water prior to contact with the clothes. This is particularly true in the use of liquid bleach as any direct contact of the bleach with the clothes may cause undesirable changes of color of the clothes and also injury to the clothes fabric. A further factor of importancefor insuring the adequate mixture and dispersion of the liquid additive in the wash water, and particularly liquid bleach, is that there is presently on the market certain powdered detergents embodying fluorescent dyes effective to provide whiteness to the clothes and these dyes are neutralized in the event bleach is added to the wash water prior to complete dispersion and dissolution of the detergents in the wash water so that no whitening action of the clothes occurs by. the fluorescent dyes. It has been recommended that, after the detergents are placed in the washer, a two to four minute agitation period should occur before the bleach is allowed to enter the wash water to insure that the detergents have been thoroughly mixed with the wash water and dissolved in the wash Water prior to the bleach being allowed to enter and be dispersed in the agitated wash water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid additive dispenser .for washing machines of the oscillating agitator type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid 3,068,79 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 ice additive dispenser for clothes washing machines of the agitator type in which the dispenser is mounted on the agitator above the Wash water operating level in the washing machine and contains a liquid additive, the agi-, tator being adapted and constructed, during oscillating movement thereof to-direct a portion of the wash water in the washing machine into the dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive, the dispenser having means for automatically discharging the liquid additive and wash water mixture 'into the clothes-containing wash water of the washing machine when a predetermined quantity of the mixture is contained within the dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid additive dispenser for clothes washing machines of the agitator type, the dispenser being adapted to be mounted on the top of the agitator above the wash Water operating level in the machine and to oscillate therewith during operating of the washing machine, the agitator having means for causing a portion of the wash water in the clothes washing machine to be directed into the dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive for a predetermined period of time and, subsequently, after a predetermined volume of the mixture is contained in the dispenser, the dispenser automatically discharging the liquid additivewash water mixture into the clothes-containing wash water in the washing machine.

The invention consists of novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the-above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an agitator disposed within a clothes-receiving basket of a Washing machine,

additive dispenser for washing machines of the oscillating 4O agitator type and which operates to dispense a liquid additive into the wash Water by the action of the agitator during normal operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid additive-containing dispenser for washing machines of the type described, and adapted by the oscillating motion of the' agitator, to be supplied with wash water for mixing with the liquid additive during agitator oscillation and, after a predetermined time period, to discharge the liquid additive-wash Water mixture into the clothes-containing wash water in the washing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid additive dispenser for clothes washing machines of the oscillating agitator type, the dispenser being mounted on the agitator to oscillate therewith during operation of the washing machine and containing a liquid additive and wherein agitator oscillation is operative to cause a portion of the wash Water in the washing machine to enter the dispenser for a predetermined time period and, at the termination of such time period, the dispenser is efiective to automatically discharge the mixture of the wash water and liquid additive into the clothes-containing wash water in the washing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide the liquid embodiment of the invention mounted on the agitator;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the agitator, partially broken away, and with the dispenser removed, to more clearly illustrate structural details of the agitator;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the dispenser, said view being taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the dispenser, said section being taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed an agitator 10 of the type shown and described in Gerhardt et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,022,655 issued February 27, 1962, the agitator being positioned within a vertically disposed imperforate wash basket 11 within an imperforate tub (not:

shown) and the agitator is oscillated by drive mechanism (not shown), the tub, drive mechanism, and other portions of the washing machine structure are preferably, but not necessarily, of the type disclosed in Gerhardt et al. Patent No. 2,807,951 issued October 1, 1957.

The agitator 10 is adapted during oscillation of the agitator, to provide for recirculation of the fluid or wash water within the basket and a filter is disposed on or about the top of the agitator in the path of the recirculated water to remove the lint and scum from the water. More particularly, the agitator 10 comprises an upstanding hollow post portion 16 for receiving the oscillated wall 18 defining a water passageway 19 between the wall base of the agitator.

18 and post 16, and a downwardly and outwardly flaring base portion 21. Disposed about the outer surface and extending outwardly from the flaring base portion 21 are a plurality of vanes 22 for causing turbulence of the water within the basket 11 when the agitator is oscillated. A conical shaped, imperforate plate 23 is provided with a plurality of spiral or helical vanes 24 disposed about the inner surface and extending outwardly to substantially the periphery of the flaring base 21, the plate being suitably secured to the base of the agitator. The vanes 24, between the base portion 21 of the agitator and plate 23, define a plurality of helical shaped spaces 26 in the are in fluid communication with the water passageway 19 and the spaces 26. A plurality of openings 28 are provided in the top of the flaring, base 21 and are placed in the base so that they open into the spaces 26 at a point substantially forward of the end of the longest vane 24 thereby providing a pocket or cavity 26a in the agitator base. The openings 27 serve as outlets for the wash water pumped upwardly, as indicated by the arrows, by

the vanes 24 in the agitator. into an annular filter pan 29 disposed on the agitator 10. During oscillation of the agitator, the water in-the basket 11 will be pumped upwardly through the openings 28, passageways 26 and 19, and outlets 27 into the filter pan 29 to remove scum and lint from the continuously circulating wash' water. For a more complete disclosure of, the filter agitator herein shown and described, reference is, made to the aforesaid Gerhardt et al. US. Patent No.;3,022,655 issued February 27, 1962..

Four openings 27 in the agitator.

4 will be forced upwardly through the. agitator by the spiral vanes 24 for discharge through the outlets 27 into the lint filter pan 29 surrounding and havingits inner wall tightly fitting against the wall 18 of the agitator. In the present embodiment of the invention, the liquid additive dispenser is provided with a funnel portion generally designated at 41 and having its lower open end in fluid communication with one of the discharge openings or outlets 27 in the agitator, the upper end of the funnel 41 having a constricted opening 42 for admitting and directing wash water from the funnel into the compartment 37 for drainage into the compartment 36. More particularly, the funnel portion 41 of the dispenser formed by an enlarged arcuate portion depending from the flange 32 and below the compartment 37 and, "as shown in FiGS. 3 and 4, has two arcua'te side walls 41a and 41b radially spaced from each other, and two end walls 41c and 41d, the side wall 41b having its upper end merging with the wall 38 of the flange 32 and the side wall 41a being spaced radially inwardly of the flange as shown in H83. 1, 3, and 4, and the end walls 41c and 41d having their upper ends merging with the circular flange 32 to define the funnel 41. Accordingly, it will be clearly ap-. parent that, asthe wash water is drawn from the tub, under the influence of the. spiral vanes 24 of the agitator,

through the openingsx28 of the agitator into and through i the passages 26 and 19 and oneof the. openings 27 through.

the funnel 41 into the compartment 37 for drainage through the opening 40 into the compartment 36,. during oscillation of the. agitator. The liquid additive, previously poured into the compartment 36 of the dispenser and to a level such as indicated. at AVinFIG. 1, is thus and a bottom, wall which, as shown in. FIG. 1, is inclined downwardly from the sidewall 33 to merge with the bottom edge of the radially inner side wall 34. Accordingly, the walls; 33, 34, and 35 provide an annular.

compartment 36 within, the pan31 and completely surrounding the top. of the agitator. The pan 31 is also providedwith another annular. compartment. 37 disposed radially; inwardly of the: compartment 36 of the pan.

The compartment 37 is. formed by portions of the radially inwardly directed flange. 32 of the dispenser and. also the pan 31 including the upper portion of? the radially inner side wall 34. of the pan and. by. a. horizontal bottom wall portion. 38 and vertical side wall portion 39 of the flange 32, and which side wall portion. 39 extends, as; shown in FIGS. 3 and, 4,, substantially semi-circumferentially of the compartment 37 and. terminates,.-at opposite ends, in walls 39:; and 39.12 disposed; tangentially of a circular vertical wall 390 of the flanges-32 and merging therewith, the bottom, wall. 38 thereafter enlarging in area and extendingbetweenand mergingwithv the sidewall 34. and.

the side wall 390. The compartments 36. and 37Iare in fluid? communication with eachother, through. the medium of a passage or opening-40 in the wall 34 adjacent the downwardly and outwardly inclined wall 38. ofthe flange 32 so that any fluid in the compartment 37 will be dis-. charged" and drained. into the compartment 36. The opening 40; isof, such size asto' provide a metered flow ot fluid from thecompartment; 37 into the compartment 36.

' As previously described, the. agitator is provided with four outlets 27 at the. ends of the passages 19 thereof throughwhich, wash water. is-forced in the direction indicatedby the-arrows during each forward oscillation stroke of: the agitator so that the wash water in the. basket 11 thoroughly dispersed and mixed. with'the incoming wash water due to the flow of the. wash water into the compar-tment and also by the oscillating movement of the agitator. i a

For discharging the liquid additive and wash water. mixture from the compartment 36, there is provided a curved syphon tube, generally indicated at 46 in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, located in the pan 31 of the dispenser and disposed diametrically opposite to the funnel. 41 of the dispenser.

' Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5,. it. will be seen that the syphon tube has. one end disposed adjacent to the bottom Wall 35. of the compartment 36 and has its other end positioned within and extending through. an opening: 47 in the bottom wall 35 of the compartment 36.0f the dispenser, the tubebeing retained in position within the dispenser. bycircumferentially spaced arcuate. retaining fingers 48 between which the tube 46. is disposed with its" vertically extending portions firmly: engaged and gripped by the fingers. which, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, extend radially outwardly of the side wall. 3.4. and merge with the. bottom wall' 35. ofv the compartment; 360i therdis V penser.

Describing now the operation of-thedispenser,oscillation. of the agitator 10 causes the: wash water to be forced: upwardly through the agitator from the basket 11 through one of the dischargev openings 27 in the passage 19 of the. agitator, the funnel 41, and the opening 42 into the compartment; 37. From this compartment 37, the wash water flows through the metering hole or opening 40 into the compartment .36 tov efiect a mixture. and. dispersion of the wash water with the liquid. additive in the compartment 36. It is contemplated that suincient wash water:

will enter the. compartment 36 so that the mixture of. wash water and liquid additive will. fill the compartment 36 in threeto four minutes to a level equal to the height of the syphon tube, as shownin FIG. 5. When the level I of the wash water and liquid additive mixture reaches this height, the syphon tube immediately and automatically starts its syphoning action and will empty the com partment 36in approximately one minute. Themixture, syphoning out of the compartment 36, is then further diluted in the lint filter pan withv the wash water coming from the other three passages 27 in the agitator and then drained into the wash water in the basket 11. It has been determined that the period of time required for the start of the syphoning action is the same for normal and slow agitation due to the fact that any water above the opening or hole 40 is drawn back into the agitator on the return stroke of the agitator during its oscillating movement. Accordingly, it can be seen that the compartment 37 has the same liquid head to allow a fairly constant flow of the wash water through the metering hole 40 at all times. Any of the wash water-liquid additive remaining in the dispenser at the end of the washing cycle is immediately spun out along with the wash water at the beginning of the spin period at which time the liquid will be moved by centrifugal force along and upwardly of the wall 33 of the dispenser and outwardly of the dispenser. During this spinning operation, it will be apparent that the syphon tube 46 will be inettec-tive to syphon any liquid remaining in the receptacle due to its location closely adjacent to the inner side wall 34 of the receptacle compartment 36.

While the liquid additive dispenser embodying the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular lint-filtering agitator arrangement, it is to be understood that the dispenser may be mounted on the basket of the washing machine or on a conventional agitator and be fully operative to dispense the liquid additive through the syphon tube 46 after the addition of a predetermined quantity of wash water or rinse Water into the open top of the compartment 36 and, if desired, during a" predetermined time period, for, as soon as the liquid level of the liquid additive and water mixture is equal to the height of the syphon tube as shown in FIG. 5, the syphon tube will become immediately and automatically eifective to cause the mixture to drain into the wash water in the basket. Accordingly, while the invention has been described in connection with a certain specific embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this is by Way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-containing basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within saidbasket; a liquid additive dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and being operatively disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having means for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for introducing water into said containing means for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means for discharging the liquid additive-water mixture from said containing means, said discharging means being spaced from and operative independently of said water introducing means; and means operative in response to oscillating movement of said agitator, including passage means provided by said agitator and communieating with said water introducing means, for efiecting the flow of water in said basket through said passage means to said water introducing means of said dispenser and into said containing means of said dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive therein and for flow of the mixture through said discharge means of said dispenser.

2. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-containing basket adapted to contain Water at a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within said basket; a liquid additive dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and being operatively disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having means for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for introducing water into said containing means for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means for discharging the liquid additivewater mixture from said containing means, said discharging means being spaced from and operative independently of said water introducing means; and means operative in response to oscillating movement of said agitator, including passage means provided by said agitator communicating with said water introducing means, for effecting the flow of water in said basket upwardly through said passage means of said agitator to said water-introducing means of said dispenser and into said containing means of said dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive therein and for flow of the mixture through said discharge means of said dispenser.

3. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-com taining basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within said basket; a liquid additive dispenser. having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and being operatively disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having means for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for introducing water into said containing means for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means for discharging the liquid additive from said containing means, said discharging means being spaced from and operatively independently of said Water introducing means; and means associated with said agitator and operative in response to oscillating movement of said agitator to pump water in said basket upwardly through said agitator to said water-introducing means of said dispenser and into said containing means of said dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive therein and for flow of the mixture through said discharge means of said dispenser.

4. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-containing basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined operating level and rotatable about an axis; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within said basket; a liquid additive dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and being operatively disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having a receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for introducing water into said receptacle for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means for discharging the liquid additive-water mixture from said containing means comprising tubular syphon means positioned Within said receptacle and having one open end disposed adjacent the bottom of the receptacle and the other open.

end extending through the bottom of the receptacle; and

means operative in response to oscillating movement of said agitator for effecting the flow of Water in said basket to said water-introducing means of said dispenser and into said containing means of said dispenser for mixture with the liquid additive therein and for flow of the mixture through said syphon means of said dispenser upon a predetermined quantity of the mixture being contained within said receptacle, said syphon means being located in said said dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and being operatively disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having a receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive and having communication with said water passage in said agitator for receiving water pumped upwardly by said agitator for mixture with the liquid additive, and means for discharging the liquid additive-water mixture from said receptacle.

6. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-containing basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within said basket and having means defining a water passage through said agitator and including pump means formed within said agitator for pumping the water in saidbasket upwardly through said agitasage in said agitator for receiving water pumped up-' wardly by said agitator for mixture with said liquid ad- 7 ditive, and a siphon in said receptacle and operative to discharge the liquid additive-water mixture from said receptacle. 1

7."In a clothes washing machine having a clothes-con- .taining basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillating movement within said basket and having means defining a water passage through said agitator and including pump means formed within said agitator for pumping the water insaid basket upwardly through said agitator during oscillation of said agitator; and a liquid additive dispenser having means for mounting the same upon. said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser haviing a receptacle having radial ly spaced inner and outer compartments, the outer compartment being adapted to receive and contain a liquid additive and the inner compartment having means communicating with said agitator passage for directing water,

pumped upwardly by said agitator pump means during agitator oscillation, into said inner compartment, means for introducing and metering water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means operative to dis-:

charge the liquid additive-water mixture from said outer compartment upon flow of. water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for a predetermined period of time and attainment of a predetermined quantity of the liquid additive-water mixture in said receptacle.

8. In a clothes washing machine having a-clothes-con- 'taining basket adapted to contain water at. a predetermined operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillatsaid agitator for oscillating movement therewith and disposed above the operating level of the water in the basket, said dispenser having a receptacle having radially 7 spaced inner and outer compartments, the outer' compartment being adapted to receive and contain a liquid additive and the inner compartment having a funnel positioned within said agitator passage for directing water, pumped upwardly by said. agitator pump means during agitator oscillation into said inner compartment, said compartments having a common wall dividing the same and provided with an opening for metering the flow of Water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for mixture with the liquid additive therein, and means in said outer compartment and operative to discharge 'the liquid additive-water mixture from said mined period of time and attainment of a predetermined; quantity of the liquid additive-water. mixture in said receptacle.

9. In a clothes washingmachine. having a clothes-con} taining basket adapted to contain water at a predetermined-operating level; an agitator mounted for oscillat ing movementwithin said basket and having means defining a water passage through said agitator and including pump means formed within said agitator for pump-- ing the .water in said basket upwardly through said agitator during oscillation of said agitator; and a liquid addiw tive dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith and disposed above the operating level ofthe Water in-the basket, said dispenser having a receptacle having radially spaced inner and outer compartments, the outer compartment being adapted to receive and contain a liquid additive and the inner compartment having a funnel posh tioned within said agitator passage fordirecting water, pumped upwardly by said agitator pump'means during agitator oscillation, into said inner compartment, said com-v partments having a common wall dividing the same and provided with an opening for metering the fiow of water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for'mixture withthe liquid additive therein, and a tubular siphon in said outer compartment adjacent said wall and operative to discharge the liquid additive-water mixture from said outer compartment upon flow of water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for a predetermined period of time and attainment of a predetermined quantity of the liquid additive-water;

mixture in said receptacle.

10'. In a clothes washing machine having a basket; adapted to be filled with water to a predetermined level. I

and having an agitator in saidbasket, a liquid additive dispenser comprisingmeans for mounting the same uponsaid agitator above the level of the water in said basket,

said dispenser having a receptacle having spaced radial-z ly inner and outer annular compartments, the outer compartment being adapted to receive and contain a liquid additive and the, inner compartment being adapted to receive and contain water, means for providing, for a, metered flow of water tromsaid inner compartment tosaid outer compartment for mixture with. the liquid ad.-

-ditive therein, and a tubular siphonin said outer com-,

partment and having one open end disposed adjacent the bottom of said outer compartment and having its other open end extending through the bottom of said outer compartment and operative to discharge the liquid additive-water mixture from said outer compartment upon flow of water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment and attainment of a predetermined quantity of the liquid additive-water mixture in said outer com-' partment.

11. In a clothes washing machine having a basket adapted to be filled with water to a predetermined level and having an agitator in said basket, a liquid additive dispenser comprising means for mounting the same upon said agitator above the level of the water in said basket, said dispenser having a receptacle having radially spaced inner and outer annular compartments, the outer com-f partment adapted to receive and contain a liquid addi- .tive and the inner compartment being adaptedto receive adjacent said wall and operative to discharge. the liquid additive-water mixture from said outer compartment upon flow of water from said inner compartment into said outer compartment for a predetermined period of time and at- 9 tainment of a predetermined quantity of the liquid additive-water mixture in said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,293,017 Broche Feb. 4, 1919 2,293,922 Serinis Aug. 25, 1942 2,296,055 Ray Sept. 15, 1942 2,498,894 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 10 Gayring Dec. 12, 1950 Buechler Aug. 18, 1959 Altorfer Oct. 20, 1959 Brucken Sept. 20, 1960 Devery Mar. 7, 1961 Platt Mar. 21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 9, 1959 

